Somatotropinoma infarction during octreotide therapy leading to bilateral cavernous sinus syndrome

Growth hormone storm following infarction of a residual growth hormone secreting pituitary macroadenoma

BACKGROUND

Thyrotroph pituitary adenomas have been reported to be a rare cause of 'thyroid storms', causing myriad metabolic and autonomic disturbances. In this case, we describe the second reported case in literature of a 'GH storm' in an infarcted somatotroph adenoma.

CASE DESCRIPTION

We describe a residual invasive somatotroph macroadenoma that underwent infarction, producing a dramatic elevation in serum GH levels. While infarction of adenomas may in some cases lead to remission, the patient went on to require re-surgery and re-radiation due to growth of the residual viable tumour.

CONCLUSIONS

'GH storms' are rare but interesting events that may occur in somatotroph adenomas. Infarction or apoplexy must be considered when managing residual adenomas.

Pituitary apoplexy in endocrinologically silent adenoma during somatostatin analog administration for pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor: A case report

A dopamine agonist administered for prolactinoma treatment and pituitary stimulation tests are reported as risk factors for pituitary apoplexy. We report a case of an 82-year-old patient who suffered from pituitary apoplexy in an endocrinologically silent adenoma during lanreotide administration. The patient was diagnosed with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with lymph node metastasis and treated with lanreotide for two years. An endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach was used for tumor and hematoma removal. The specimen showed growth hormone and prolactin positivity and was diagnosed as pit1-lineage plurihormonal adenoma. The tumor also showed positivity for somatostatin receptor 2. Thus, lanreotide treatment is a risk factor for pituitary apoplexy even in silent adenoma.

Pituitary apoplexy causing spontaneous remission of acromegaly following long-acting octreotide therapy: a rare drug side effect or just a coincidence

Pituitary apoplexy is characterized by abrupt onset of haemorrhage or non-haemorrhagic infarction of a pituitary adenoma. The clinical features include acute onset severe headache, visual field defects, meningeal irritation, ophthalmoplegia and hypopituitarism. The pituitary apoplexy may be clinically silent in ∼25% of patients. We report a case of acromegaly due to pituitary macroadenoma. The patient was started on long-acting octreotide therapy. On 3-month follow-up, the patient showed clinical and biochemical remission and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed subclinical haemorrhage and resolution of tumour. The octreotide therapy was stopped. On 6-month follow-up, the patient was still in remission and the MRI of brain revealed non-enhancing mixed intensities haemorrhagic and cystic areas of the pituitary gland. In our patient, whether spontaneous remission of acromegaly due to subclinical pituitary haemorrhage was coincidental or due to long-acting octreotide therapy is still a dilemma. We report this case because of rarity and clinical importance of this unusual occurrence.